Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis

Cora Sabino’s father tells of a US government coverup about extraterrestrials existing amongst us for decades. In California, two Alien vessels arrive and abduct Cora. She discovers that her family is deeply involved, and Ampersand the alien wants to have aliens trapped on earth for 30 years returned. The difficulty of communication – “And we still know nothing,” said Sol. “Knowing their civilization might, hypothetically maybe, want to destroy us in a few hundred years is probably worse than knowing nothing.” The use of the trope of first contact and dehumanising government highlights xenophobia and intolerance.